About the Book

The first U.S. hospital ship of World War II saw service in mid–1943. By war’s end, the fleet had carried nearly 17,000 sick and wounded home.
This richly illustrated work covers all 39 ships that served as U.S. Navy and Army hospital ships during World War II. Each ship’s history is fully covered, concentrating on the ship’s hospital service. Information is presented on each ship’s personnel, the handling of patients, types of wounds and diseases encountered, and life aboard the ships. General layouts of the ships and technical data are also included. Biographies are provided on persons for whom ships were named.

About the Author(s)

Emory A. Massman rose to chief mate serving on three liberty ships during World War II. He lives in Ellenton, Florida.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ixPreface 1Introduction 7

1. Some Background on Early Hospital Ships 15
2. Eight Former East Coast Passenger Vessels 31
3. Five Former Transoceanic Passenger Vessels 89
4. Two Former Freighters 151
5. Six Converted Liberty Ships 173
6. Three Former Troopships 239
7. One Vessel Designed and Built as a Hospital Ship 283
8. Two Former East Coast Passenger Vessels 313
9. One Former Transoceanic Passenger Vessel 343
10. Two Former Troopships 353
11. Three C1 Freighter Hulls Completed as Hospital Ships 371
12. Six C4 Freighter Hulls Completed as Hospital Ships 411

Bibliography 483Index 491

Book Reviews & Awards

“provides extensive information about each of the 39 ships that served in the U.S. Army or Navy during the war…numerous excellent photographs of the vessels and their crews in action…well-written and informative…extensive index…a useful addition”—ARBA; “a unique insight into the rarely explored subject of hospital ships…enjoyable…a valuable, if not essential, addition to any World War II library…highly recommend[ed]”—Nautical Research Journal; “the author has correctly positioned the Hospital Ships as a key part of America’s greatest maritime effort…recommend[ed]”—Kings Pointer; “comprehensive…detailing most all there is to know about [American hospital ships]…a tremendous amount of information from a wide variety of sources…[Massman] has unearthed a wealth of detail”—Stone & Stone Second World War Books; “Massman provides a very thorough explanation of each ship’s pre-conversion history, hospital ship activities and missions, and ultimate fate…fascinating…a multitude of information…a must read”—Navy Medicine.